36 TREATISE on 



and fometimes three years. They are naturally carrot-rootecfy 

 and run ilraight down into the earth, with few, and fometimes no 

 fibres ; and by (landing in this fituation for that time, they are 

 drawn up tall and {lender ; and their roots having become hard 

 and woody, the cutting away of thefe roots, to a proper length, 

 which they muft necelfariiy be, becomes a very violent operation 

 on the plants j by which means many of them fail, and the re- 

 mainder, from fo fevere a check, will be feverai years in gather- 

 ing roQts, and of courfe, during that time, will be ftunted, crofs- 

 growing, and fhrubby : But, to remedy thefe evils, purfue the fol- 

 lowing fyftem, from the obfervation of which I have long been 

 fuccefsful, in rearing many beautiful, ftraight, and well-propor- 

 tioned Oaks. 



Having provided yourfelf with acorns in the autumn, gather- 

 ed from the handfomeft and moft vigorous trees, in fair weather, 

 fpread them in an airy covered place, and turn them frequently 

 till quite dry ; when you find they are fo, mix them with fand, 

 or loofe light earth, and let them be prote(fted from vermin, 

 froft, and moifture, till about the midcUe of February.. 



At this time, or as foon after it as the weather will admit, 

 prepare, by a clean digging and raking, a fpot of good natural 

 foil ; and, to render the crop equal and uniform, try the goodnefs 

 of your feeds, by throwing them into a tub with water, when 

 the frefh will fink to the bottom, and the rotten or defedlive float 

 on the furface. The quality of the acorns being thus afcertained, 

 make fhallow drills acrofs the ground, with a fmall hoe, at eigh-' 

 teen or tv/enty inches diflance ; and in thefe drop your acov^s^ 

 about two inches feparate, covering them, with the back df a-i'^^^^y 



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